Maui > Lanaʻi
Lanaʻi – The Pineapple Isle
Located eight miles off the coast of Maui, the neighbor island of Lanai, also known as The Pineapple Isle, is one of Hawaii’s least crowded, best-kept secrets. Boasting a mixture of renowned scuba diving and snorkeling spots, Lanai is home to protected marine reserves and populations of Hawaii’s uniquely endemic marine life.
See Lanaʻi Map
Lanai Snorkeling Trips
For those looking to experience something new in this Hawaiian paradise, we highly recommend the half-day Lanai Snorkel Boat Trip with the experienced crew members of the Hawaii Ocean Project. Departing 3 to 5 times per week (depending on the season), this remarkable tour departs conveniently from West Maui’s Lahaina Harbor, perfect for guests staying in west, central, or even south Maui. Hop aboard the Kaulana, a 70’ double-decker catamaran, for a scenic ride across the ʻAuʻau Channel in comfort before exploring two of Lanai’s best snorkeling areas.
Tours include dolphin watching off the coastline of Lanai, as well as all snorkeling equipment, instruction from experienced guides, boogie boards, a water slide, BBQ lunch, unlimited beverages, one complimentary cocktail for adults, and plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the views from either the top or bottom deck! For more information or to reserve your spot, please visit Hawaii Ocean Project or call 808.667.6165.
Lanaʻi Passenger Ferry
Though Lanaʻi does have a small airport, the most popular way to travel to Lanai is by the Expeditions Ferry from Maui. This ferry runs from Lahaina and Maʻalaea Harbors and usually takes around 45 minutes to cross the channel. To make reservations call 1-800-695-2624.
Private Lanaʻi Charters
To explore Lanai in a more unique and in-depth fashion, try all-day private charters, sunrise to sunset, and cruise to Lanai with Maui Custom Charters. Sail with Maui Custom Charters aboard one of their two luxury sailing vessels. S/V Artemis is a 47′ Leopard sailing catamaran fully loaded with all of the elements needed for a beautiful day on the water. S/V Nova is a 42′ Catalina MKII is the sailboat of choice by sailors internationally and is the perfect choice for a breezy day in the Maui area.
Lanai Scuba Diving
Lanai is World famous for its diving. You can take boat trips from Maui or stay on Lanai and have the resort take you out to Cathedrals, Shark Fin, White Rock, or any of the many other great scuba diving spots.
Lanai Rafting Tours
If you’re staying on Maui, but you’d love to explore and snorkel the island of Lanai, take a trip to Lanai. It’s an exciting way to travel, and during whale season, you’ll have a chance to do some whale watching too. Regardless of the time of year, you’re likely to see dolphins swimming in the channel!
Lanai Golf Courses
Both of the golf courses in Lanai are part of the Four Seasons Resorts. Koele is a 6,200-yard course designed by Greg Norman. This course is unique in its incredible views and diverse landscape. Manele was designed by Jack Nicklaus and runs along the sea cliffs with some outstanding ocean views.
Lana’i History
The quiet island of Lanaʻi, the Pineapple Isle, has been inhabited since the 15th century. Mostly overlooked by European explorers, Lanaʻi has enjoyed a much more peaceful history than its neighboring islands. In 1922, Lanai was bought by James Dole and used as the largest pineapple plantation in the world. For 63 years the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (Dole Food Company) owned and controlled the island and its plantation. The famed billionaire David H. Murdock took control of Lanaʻi in 1985, continuing the plantation’s pineapple production. With the introduction of cheaper produce from Central and South America, Lanaʻi has not been able to compete with the imported fruit. All commercial pineapple production on Lanai was shut down slowly with the final plant closing in 2007.
With the lack of revenue from pineapples came an opportunity for the people of Lanai to concentrate more on tourism. Lanaʻi Island has 2 large resorts, both managed by the Four Seasons, at Manele Bay and the Lodge at Koʻele. With these resorts and the smaller Hotel Lanaʻi, over 3,000 locals are able to live and work on Lanaʻi.
